Administrative Guideline: Animals on Campus

Reviewed by Cabinet: September 8, 2020; November 9, 2020
Approved by President: November 9, 2020

  1. Purpose
    To state and explain the College’s guidelines regarding different types of animals on campus.
  2. Overview
    Santa Fe College is committed to providing individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to access College property, courses, programs, activities and employment. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) and § 413.081, Florida Statutes (F.S.):
    1. Subject to the health and safety restrictions set forth herein, any student or guest seeking to bring a service animal to a Santa Fe College property is welcome to do so without prior approval from the College or documentation that the service animal is trained to perform its duty. The College, however, reserves the right to ask the individual: 1. if the animal is required because of a disability, and 2. the work or task the animal has been trained to perform.
    2. Employees of the college who are requesting a service animal as a reasonable accommodation under the ADAAA are required to first engage in the interactive process which can be initiated by contacting the College’s Equity Officer.
  3. Definitions
    1. Animal Services: Alachua County or Bradford County Office of Animal Services.
    2. Counseling Center Therapy Animal: Counseling Center therapy animals are engaged by the college’s licensed mental health Counseling Specialists in connection with providing mental health services to SF students.
    3. Emotional Support Animal: An emotional support animal (also known as an assistance, comfort, and/or therapy animal) is an animal that an individual uses solely for emotional support, well-being, or comfort.
    4. Handlers: An individual who is the owner, user, or trainer of a service animal is considered a handler and must comply with applicable state and local laws concerning the animal.
    5. Laboratory Animal: Laboratory animals are those animals produced and/or used by faculty and staff in connection with the teaching or training of students. Laboratory animals are allowed in SF laboratories and classrooms under the direction of faculty and staff in Academic Affairs.
    6. Pet: A pet is a domestic animal kept for pleasure or companionship.
    7. Police Animal: Police animals refer to dogs or horses that are specifically trained to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel. Police animals are allowed on campus under the direction of the SFPD Chief, IPS Director, or their designees.
    8. Service Animals: As defined by the ADAAA and §413.081, F.S., a service animal is an animal (a dog or a miniature horse) that is trained or is in training to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The work being performed must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Work may include but is not limited to guiding an individual who is visually impaired or blind, alerting an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, pulling a wheelchair, assisting with mobility or balance, helping an individual with a psychiatric or neurological disability by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors, reminding an individual with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming an individual with posttraumatic stress disorder during an anxiety attack, or doing other specific work or performing other special tasks. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
    9. Zoo Animal: Zoo animals are housed at the Santa Fe College Zoo for educational purposes. Zoo animals are allowed on campus under the direction of the SF Zoo Director or designee.
  4. Restrictions for Service Animals and their Handlers
    1. Service animals must be accompanied by their handlers at all times and in all areas of College property, including without limitation classrooms, restrooms, administrative buildings, meeting areas and dining areas. Interference in any way with a service animal or the duties it performs is prohibited.
    2. The College recognizes that the presence of a service animal in certain areas may pose a health and safety risk to the animal, to the handler, to other individuals on campus, or may fundamentally alter the nature of a program or service being offered.
      1. Service animals are restricted from the following areas: 1. Teaching laboratories; 2. Energy or maintenance control areas; 3. Areas where protective clothing is required; 4. Any areas where the presence of a service animal would pose a danger to the service animal, handler, or other individuals (such as in areas in which heavy equipment or machinery is used); 5. Any areas that are subject to restrictions outside of the control of the College (such as construction sites); 6. Food preparation areas; 7. Certain areas of the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo; 8. Any area as prohibited by law.
      2. Service animals may be permitted in teaching laboratories when arrangements can be made to ensure that the animal’s presence poses no health or safety risk. These arrangements may include, but are not limited to, the handler purchasing and the service animal wearing protective gear, booties, goggles, etc. or identifying a location in the lab where the service animal will stay, away from potential spills or other risks.
  5. Handler Responsibilities
    1. Handlers must maintain control of their animal at all times, using a harness, lease or other tether while on College property. If the animal is physically out of control including but not limited to barking or demonstrating aggressive or threatening behavior, and the handler is unable to take effective measures to gain control, the College reserves the right to have the animal removed from campus.
    2. Handlers must never leave animals unattended on College property. Should any animal be found unaccompanied, the animal may be subject to removal by SFPD, Alachua or Bradford County Animal Services, or persons trained in animal handling, and the handler may be subject to action under applicable College policies. SFPD should be contacted immediately to report unattended animals on campus.
    3. Handlers may not leave the animal tied or tethered to any College property, including but not limited to buildings, railings, bike racks, fire hydrants, fences, signposts, benches or trees.
    4. Animals may not be left in vehicles, be outside of the control of their handler, or be allowed to run freely anywhere on campus.
    5. To the extent possible, handlers should mitigate any disruption or interference caused by the animal to College activities including but not limited to teaching, services or administrative activities.
    6. At all times, the well-being of the animal is the sole responsibility of the handler. The handler is also responsible for properly cleaning up any waste created by the animal and is responsible for any property damage or injuries caused by the animal. Should the handler not take appropriate precautions to prevent property damage or injury to the College community, the handler may be asked to remove the animal from College property and may be subject to action under applicable College policies and the law.
    7. A handler must also carry adequate waste removal devices or disposal bags to remove any excreta deposited by the animal.
  6. Campus Spaces
    1. Inside Buildings
      1. With the exception of service animals, zoo animals, laboratory animals, police animals, Counseling Center therapy animals, and animals invited to College events by College officials, no animals are allowed to enter SF buildings at any time.
      2. Counseling Center Therapy Animals must be registered, and the handler must provide proof of liability insurance and current vaccination records to the SF Safety Coordinator. The animal must be accompanied by the handler to be permitted to enter the SF Counseling Center. With special permission from the SF Safety Coordinator, Counseling Center therapy animals may be allowed in other areas of the College only when accompanied by the handler and Counseling Specialist offering services to students.
      3. Emotional support animals are strictly prohibited from entering all SF buildings. Emotional Support Animals do not qualify as “service animals.”
      4. Pets are strictly prohibited from entering all SF buildings.
    2. Outdoor Public Spaces
      Pets and emotional support animals may be allowed in certain outdoor public spaces designated by the college. Designated spaces include the exterior region of the campus and centers, athletic areas south of South Road as well as the open field north of O building. A handler must maintain physical control of their animal when in a public space and must also carry adequate waste removal devices or disposal bags and remove any excreta deposited by the animal.
  7. Removal of Animals from College
    1. The College reserves the right to request that any animal be removed from College property if the animal does not meet the definition of a service animal.
    2. The College may require that a service animal be removed under certain circumstances. The College shall make such determinations on a case-by-case basis. Circumstances warranting removal include but are not limited to: 1) If the service animal is found by the College to be out of control and the animal’s handler does not take immediate and effective action to control the animal; 2) If the service animal is not housebroken; 3) If the service animal is physically ill; 4) If the service animal is unreasonably dirty; 5) If the service animal attempts to enter a place on campus where the presence of the service animal causes danger to the safety of the handler or other individuals; 6) If the service animal enters a prohibited area; 7) If the service animal is, or could be, in danger; 8) If the service animal is left unattended.
    3. Should the restriction or removal of a service animal be warranted under this administrative guideline, the College will work with the handler to determine a reasonable alternative accommodation that will allow the handler equal access to the academic program, activity or employment responsibilities.
  8. Opposition to Service Animals and Conflicting Disabilities
    1. Students who are scheduled to come in regular contact with another individual’s service animal but experience an adverse reaction like fear or allergy should contact the Disabilities Resources Center to assist in resolving any issues relating to conflicting disabilities.
    2. Employees who are scheduled to come in regular contact with another individual’s service animal but experience an adverse reaction like fear or allergy should contact the College’s Equity Officer to assist in resolving any issues relating to conflicting disabilities.
    3. The College will work to accommodate the needs of the handler and the person negatively impacted by the service animal, when possible.
  9. Appeals
    Any person who feels that they have been unfairly denied access to College property due the presence of a service animal or have been discriminated against on the basis of a disability, may file a complaint under College Rule 2.8 by contacting the College’s Equity Officer.

    Contact Information and Resources:
    1. Equity Officer and Title IX Coordinator
      Equity Officer and Title IX Coordinator
      3000 NW 83rd Street, R-Annex, Room 113
      Gainesville, FL 32606
      352-395-5950
      equity.officer@sfcollege.edu
    2. Disabilities Resource Center
      Disabilities Resource Center (DRC)
      Building S, Room 229 3000 NW 83rd St.
      Gainesville, FL 32606
      Voice/TTY 352-395-4400
      Fax 352-395-4100
      disability.info@sfcollege.edu
      sfcollege.edu/drc/

This guidance does not supersede any federal or state laws or regulations.

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